#25 Week Fifteen "The Tragedy of Hamlet" Act 1 Scene 5

Summary: The Ghost and Hamlet are talking, the ghost tells Hamlet that he is indeed the ghost of his father. The ghost tells him that Hamlet must be ready for revenge. The ghost tells him that he was murdered! It wasn't a snake that bit him, but the real snake is wearing the crown! Claudius is the one who murdered King Hamlet. While Hamlet was in the garden, Claudius went up to him and poured a vial of hen bane poison into his ear. That poison moves fast through the veins and curdles the blood, causing King Hamlet to die. King Hamlet is also sad because Gertrude fell for the nice words and pretty gifts, that's why she is with Claudius. Within seconds, Claudius had stole everything from King Hamlet. Young Hamlet now plans to get revenge and kill his uncle. He tells the other guys to swear on his sword that they never saw him this night or knew what happened to him. 

Opinion: That is crazy! How rude, that is what power will do to somebody. Just for power or jealous, the dude goes and kills his own brother in law. Well I really want Hamlet to kill Claudius because if someone where to murder my father I would definitely be looking for revenge! I would also hate if my mom could be bought just as easy as Gertrude was! This whole family is messed up. I can't wait to read the rest! :)

#24 Week Fifteen "The Tragedy of Hamlet" Act 1 Scene 4

Summary: Horatio, Marcellus and Bernardo are with Hamlet awaiting the ghost, when they here cannons. The men ask Hamlet what it means and hes says that the King is having a party. The fact the they party to loudly makes them look bad.  Hamlet says, "A tiny spot of evil casts doubt on their good qualities and ruins their reputations." The ghost then appears and Hamlet tells it to tell him what it wants! The ghost motions for Hamlet to go with him. The other tell Hamlet not to go and hold him back; but Hamlet takes out his sword and threatens to kill them. He then goes with the ghost because he doesn't care about living anymore. The men follow him, in order to protect him.
Opinion: Poor Hamlet he must really not care about his life. Okay, if a ghost were to come up to me, I would run! I would not know what to do if it told me to go with it, well yeah I would run! But if it is a relative then that's different. I see where Hamlet is coming from, he misses his father greatly and wants to be with him. So he will do anything just to be with him, even if it requires dying. Now that is a good kid! 

#23 Week Fifteen "The Tragedy of Hamlet" Act 1 Scene 3

Summary: Laertes is talking to Ophelia ( his sister) telling her not to be with Hamlet because he will just use here for his own lustful desires and that she needs to go out fully clothed because it will cause too much temptation. She must not expose herself to him and that often young people lost self-control. Ophelia then tells him that he better take his own advice. Polonius ( Laertes father) tells him what things he needs to watch for when he goes back to France. Laertes then tells Ophelia to not forget what he says! So Polonius is curious and asks what they were talking about. She tells him that Hamlet has been offering his affections a lot. Her father gets angry and tells her that she is just a fool if she believes those lies. That boys will say anything to fulfill his lustful desires towards her. Her father tells her to stop wasting her time, because Hamlet does not truly love her.
Opinion: Laertes is being a typical big brother and is right in warning her about Hamlet. Ophelia like any other girl falls for a sweet talker. With her father and brother warning her about how bad Hamlet is, it is going to make her want to change him. Which can not happen, she most likely will end up falling more for him. It is hard to not give in to lustful desires, especially if the guy is cute! But Ophelia should be cautious, because if two people were to warn me I would be a little more cautious with the guy. 

#22 Week Fifteen "The Tragedy of Hamlet" Act 1 Scene 2

Summary: Claudius marries his sister in law (Gertrude) and becomes King. He told Fortinbras uncle to stop him from invading the city. He then talks to Laertes and asks what he would like. Laertes wants to go back to Franc and Claudius approves it. Gertrude and Claudius then begin to talk to young Hamlet. They tell him to stop mourning for his father because it is not manly and it's stubborn. Claudius tells Hamlet to think of him as his new father and tells him he wants to stay in town because he is closer to the throne. Hamlet cry's out to God once everyone is gone and says how distraught he is by his fathers death!He is also upset because his father loved his mother so much, "He even stopped the wind from hitting her too hard in the face". But not even a month after his fathers passing, his mother got remarried to her brother in-law. Horatio, Bernardo and Marcellus come and tell Hamlet that they are there for his father's funeral. They then tell him about seeing his fathers ghost. He tells them that tonight he will stand guard with them and if the ghost talks to him he will talk to it. When they leave, Hamlet begins to think that it is strange for his father to be in full body armor and assumes that this must be foul play. 
Opinion: It's kind of weird to just marry someone like a month after your spouse dies. I can see why Hamlet would be upset! I would be too! I find it interesting though, perhaps it was just to keep the monarchy or whatever they have as a ruler going. Because there must be a Queen and King not just a Queen(at least not in these times). I am a little suspicious if this a trap because if Hamlet thinks it strange that his father is wearing body armor, something I assume he didn't do often, would make me a little more cautious to see the ghost.

#21 Week 15 "The Tragedy of Hamlet" Act 1 Scene 1

Summary: Bernardo, comes to take Francisco's watch. Marcellus and Horatio join Bernardo to help stand watch. Marcellus mentions that he saw something the other night. Bernardo tells them how at one o'clock Marcellus and him saw a ghost and that it occurs every night. Right as he mentions the ghost, it appears. They then notice that it looks like the deceased King. Horatio orders it to speak but it leaves. The guards then notice that the King was wearing the exact same armor that the ghost was wearing when he died. Horatio then mentions that it means bad news for their country. The late King was the great rival of Fortinbras, King of Norway. When they fought, King Hamlet killed King Fortinbras who had a legal document surrendering all his territories, his life to his conqueror. So King Fortinbras young son has sent a gang to get back what his father lost.They begin to wonder if this is why people are having to work through Sunday and why they all have to stand guard. Horatio then explains that it is something to worry about because just before Julius Caesar was killed, corpses came out of their graves and ran through the streets of Rome speaking gibberish. There were shooting stars and blood mixed with the morning dew and threatening signs on the face of the sun. The moos was so eclipsed that it almost went out. There have been several signs from the heavens. The ghost reappears and spreads open his arms. Horatio tells the ghost if there is any good deed he can do. He asks if the ghost has any secret knowledge about their country's fate, and demands him to speak! Suddenly a rooster crows and startles the ghost. Horatio then tells Bernardo and Marcellus that the ghost looked startled, like a guilty person caught by the law. He also said that the rooster awakens the god of day and makes all wandering ghosts wherever they may be, hurrying back to where they were hiding. On Christmas ghosts never come out because the rooster crows all night long. They then decide to tell young Hamlet about the ghost.
Opinion: The ghost is King Hamlet and is probably trying to warn these guys about something bad that is going to take place. Like Horatio mentioned that with Julius Caesar before he died that there was blood in the dew and corpses walking through Rome; there may not be that but I think seeing the ghost of the King would make me think that perhaps something is wrong. I think that they definitely tell Hamlet, because then he will confirm that the ghost is his father.

#20 Week Twelve "The Tragic Vision: Affirmation Through Loss & The Origins of Tragedy"

Summary: Tragedy is drama in which a major character goes through a loss but then achieves a new perspective. It is considered the most elevated literary form because it concentrates more on the religious and cosmic implications of its major character's misfortunes. It originated as a key element in ancient Greece. It all took place in Athenian festivals. Originally, tragedy in Athens was associated with the worship of Dionysus who was one of the twelve principal gods and who was thought to transform human personality, freed people from care and grief, ensured fertility and provided them with joy. To elevate this god Athenians would add the worship of Dionysus to the regular religious festivals. The most significant of these Dionysian festivals were the Lenaia- a short celebration held in January-and the City Dionysian- a week-long event in March-April. Aristotle claimed that the first tragedies developed from a choral ode called a dithyramb-a song that was sung or chanted also danced by large choruses of men at the festivals.

Opinion: Drama continues to impress me, I never knew that their were different types. Even though all tie together,there is so much put into each play,story that make them all unique. A play is performed in front of an audience, there are several characters and all have a role. There is a plot but also a subplot that the audience is able to see unfold in front of them.A tragedy could be told the same way,but it focuses mainly on one certain character. The reader is able to understand what the main character is going through but isn't able to see what the others are going through. I never would have thought that tragedy would originate from a festival where worshiping a god was the main focus. Actually in the tragedies that I have read do not really talk about the religious implications of the major character's misfortunes. 

#19 Week Twelve "Costumes and Makeup Establish the Nature and Appearance of the Actors & The Audience Responds to the Performance and Helps to Shape It"

Summary: Actors make plays more realistic by wearing costumes and using makeup,in order for the audience to understand a play's time period along with the occupations, mental outlooks and socioeconomic conditions of the characters.The costumes not only include the actual clothing but also items such as jewelry,good-luck charms, swords, farm women in plain clothes, a salesman in a business suit, a king in fashionable robes or a women in fine jewelry. Makeup enhances the person's appearance, whether to make them old or young. It also emphasizes a character's joy or sorrow. The audience is a big part in a play, the audience's reaction such as laughter, gasp, applauds give the actors feed back allowing them to continue on with the pace of the play. For this reason, drama in the theater  is the most immediate and accessible of the literary arts. It's a direct relationship with the audience and the stage action.
Opinion: I'm always amazed at how much makeup the actors wear! Up close they look weird but from far away they looked perfect and fit their characters well. An old woman may actually be played by a young girl but by all this makeup the young girl is transformed into an old woman. The costumes are definitely a big part in the character's appearance. A woman dressed in fancy clothes, shows that she is of a higher class, while a woman dressed in plain clothes or poor clothes suggest that she is of a lower class. Drama is in fact the only literary art that the audience is able to interact with unlike reading a book or hearing a poem read.

#18 Week Twelve "Lighting Creates Clarity, Emphasis,and Mood"

Summary: In medieval times plays were performed in daylight but now since we have indoor theaters lighting becomes a necessity. Artificial lighting used to be provided by lanterns, candelabras, scones and torches and indirect lighting was acquired by reflectors and valences.All of these were used brilliantly, later on gaslight and limelight lamps become the much needed lighting. The nineteenth century was the day lighting evolved with electric lights. Today dramatic performance are enhanced by all the technical features of our electronic age-including special lights such as dimmers, color filters, spotlights and thousand of lights varying in intensity. Lighting can set the mood of the scene or bring out a certain aspect of the actor, or a part of the stage.Lighting can also divide the stage into a lighter side and a darker side. Lighting has become a major part of set design especially when the dramatist uses a scrim( a transparent curtain when illuminated from behind). Which helps in scene changes and a variety of portrayal of scenes. 

Opinion:  I never thought that lighting could do all that stuff. I thought it just lit up the stage, put a spotlight on someone and that was it. But I am still surprised at everything that I am learning! I didn't know that before electric light that they had to use lanterns, torches and candelabras. That's pretty cool how now all of the stages have all this awesome technology where they can probably do a lot more but choose to stick to the original way.  

#17 Week Twelve " Sets( Scenery) Create the Play's Location and Appearance"

Summary: Most productions use set (scenery) to put into action the ideas of the director and to determine the level of reality of the production. Sets are constructed and decorated to indicate a specific place ( a living room, a kitchen, a forest, a graveyard, an open plain or a vanished past. When we first see the scenery we are bringing  the play to life through, the stairways, furniture and painted locations. In most of the proscenium stages, there is a certain set where the actors come from and go to when leaving the stage. In a one act play there is only one setting and they have to use that as their setting. Most of the sets used are interchangeable so that way they don't have to pay a lot of money for every set. In most plays the actors use props, that are easy to carry. With props it is easier to change from scene to scene without having to be rushed. There is a unit set which eliminates constant changes in scenes by using stairs or rooms that the actors go into when the scene changes. The setting can also be realistic or non realistic, the realistic setting requires extensive construction and props for the object to be as lifelike as possible. A non realistic setting is often symbolic, so props are not necessarily needed.
Opinion:  I never  knew that they could make the scenery interchangeable! When I have seen plays, I always wondered how long it took them to make that room or those stairs. It is all very interesting to me how theater works. I knew props were essential but not as essential as described in this section. It is true that when the first set is brought out it sets the whole theme for the play. 

#16 Week Twelve " The Director and the Producer Create and Support the Play's Production & The Stage is the Location of Both Speech and Action"

Summary: The producer is the one with the money and is responsible for financing and arranging  the production. The director works closely with the producer and also works close with the actors and actresses. He tells them where to go on the stage, what lines to say, when to say them. When in need for special effects, the producer and director get together and find specialists, choreographers, sound and lighting technicians to make their performance fantastic. The stage is another main part of theater. Most modern theaters feature an interior proscenium stage which is like any normal stage seen in a school auditorium. The bad thing about these is that when sitting in the balcony or behind a tall person it's hard to see and experience the central stage experience. Modern designers have been experiencing with stage designs like the Greek amphitheater. Which would give everyone a good view of everything. There was another stage called a apron stage where it is 20 or more feet closer than a proscenium stage. The other one is called a theater-in-the-round stage which is open on all sides like a boxing ring, surrounded by the audience. These are great because the actors usually come and go through the area near the audience.
Opinion: That would be really cool if we had stages like that! Like a boxing ring because everything would be up close, but i dont think there would be enough room for everyone. An amphitheater would be cool too but I dont think everyone would be able to hear, unless if they all had microphones then yes! I already knew what directors do but I didn't know that producers were the ones who dealt with the money and had to arrange everything! Interesting!

#15 Week Twelve "Performance:The Unique Aspect of Drama & Actors Bring the Play to Our Eyes and Ears"

Summary: Plays are meant to be acted! It is in the performance that makes the play exciting, sad, funny and powerful. The elements of performances are the actors, the director, the producer, the stage, sets of scenery, lighting, costumes, and makeup and finally the audience. Actors are trained to be able to exert their intelligence, emotions, imaginations, voices and bodes in order to make their character real to us. Actors speak as they imagine the character would speak- earnestly, excitedly, sadly, calmly, angrily. When they respond, they respond as they think their character might respond. They make act surprised, sad, angry. While on stage they move in a way that their character might move, by a stage according patterns known as blocking. They also engage in stage business, which is how they move their hands or body in order to make the play spontaneous and funny. 
Opinion: I have always pegged theater kids as super dramatic! But it helps! While on stage, entertaining the audience is key. If the crowd is not entertained then that means that the play isn't very good, or they aren't getting the emotions from the actors. I've been to several plays and one musical! (wicked) but with everything I have seen, I have been entertained! Even though I can't see without my glasses, but just with their voices the actors and actresses make the person feel as if they are right there with them on stage. Now that is accomplishing what needs to be done. All the expressions and gestures made by actors are what make the audience laugh, cry and feel like they are part of the story. 

#14 Week Twelve "Dramatist Frequently Introduce Symbolism and Allegory & Subject and Theme Are the Complex of Ideas Presented by the Dramatist."

Summary: Symbolism is frequently used in fiction and drama. There are cultural or universal symbols but those are things like, American flags or flowers. But there are some symbols that aren't that obvious. The not so obvious symbols are called contextual or private symbols which develop their impact only within the context or a specific play or even a particular scene. An example is from "Hamlet" when there is,  "A vestibule which symbolizes that the rights and privileges of whites on the plantation are denied to African Americans who work there." When a play offers consistent and symbols that refer to human experiences are construed as an allegory. Most playwrights try to find a subject that many people would like, for example:  love, religion, hatred, war, death, envy or any other human condition. The play's theme is also a big thing, it tells whether the them for love will be that love will always find a way, or that pride will always lead to disaster.
Opinion: It is true, many people would see a play because of the subject and theme. If the audience had no idea what the play was about they wouldn't know what to expect. Even though it's always good to surprise them, it may not be that good when the audience begins to boo. It's very important to provide the audience with a booklet informing them of what the theme is or the subject. With all of that then a play is ready to be set into action. 

#13 Week Twelve "Point of View Focuses on a Play's Major Character (or Characters) and Ideas & Tone of Atmosphere Creates Mood and Attitude"

Summary:  In fiction, point of view refers to the narrative voice of the story, but in drama it refers to the a play's perspective or focus. In theater characters have to verbally tell the story and act it out in order for us to see their emotions. The character's  themselves do not have to be present, but if another character is talking about the main character, then the main character is still in our minds and makes us wonder what is going to happen next. Obviously there has to be a certain tone or mood to the story, so the actors show us how they are feeling by simple actions. Such as throwing their hands up in frustration, jumping up and down in excitement, and rolling one's eyes. Even a silence, an intense stare or shifting glances can show us what type of mood there is. One of the most common methods playwrights use to control the tone of the play is dramatic irony. This type of irony is when a character has partial knowledge of what is really going on, while the audience or reader knows exactly what is going on. They know that they are going to be in danger if they don't figure out what is really happening. Which leaves the audience and reader anxious for the character to finally see the truth within a web of lies. 
Opinion: It is true that in a book, the tone or mood of the story or situation is hard to figure out, unless if there are clues or in the last chapter it set the mood up. In the book I recently read, it went from one person's happiness to another person's sadness. But on stage, right away we would be able to tell the difference by the person's countenance. Dramatic Irony has a big part in literature and plays. In a book, it's everywhere! In the book I read, the female main character (Elizabeth) was supposed to marry the male main character(Henry)  but the Elizabeth was in love with a stable boy. Elizabeth is rich like Henry , hence their marriage to each other. Henry is in love with Elizabeth's younger sister! While Elizabeth's "best" friend hates her since she is going to marry the man that she claims to be in love with (Henry). Her friend plans to kill Elizabeth so that she can get her way, but Elizabeth has no idea! So me as a reader is dying to see how the book ends. Right there was a bunch of Dramatic Irony, I'm sure this whole story would be pretty interesting in a play!

#12 Week Twelve "Structure is the Play's Pattern of Organization"

Summary: The way the play is arranged is the structure. Many traditional plays contain elements that consist of five stages. " (1) exposition or introduction, (2) Complication and Development, (3) Crisis or Climax, (4) Falling action, (5) Denouement, resolution, or catastrophe." In the nineteenth century, the German novelist and critic Gustav Freytag visualized this pattern as a pyramid except he used six elements rather than five. In the Freytag pyramid the exposition and complication lead up to a high point of tension- the crisis or climax-followed by the falling action and the catastrophe. The exposition or introduction brings out everything that we are going to need to know to be able to follow and understand what is to happen in the play.For example, listing the setting of the play, the background of the characters  The complication and development mark the onset of the play's major conflicts. In this stage we see the rising action arise which is where the difficulties begin, it's a difficulty that seems overwhelming and unsolvable. The crisis or climax is the culmination of the play's conflicts and complications- the intense moments of decision. This is the third stage where the crisis takes place, also known as the turning point. The climax is known as the high point of the story. It's when the hero or heroine has to make a decision to resolve all of the major conflicts within the play. The falling action is a time of avoidance and delay, it forms the downward slope of the pyramid; certain elements defer the play's conclusion. It's a time where the character will either choose to do what needs to be done or decides to do nothing about it. The denouement is the end, the logical outcome of what has happened. The denouemnet ( the unraveling) or resolution also called the catastrophe ( overturning). In this all the tragic protagonists go through suffering, death , all the unsolved mysteries have been solved, all the mistakes are corrected, all schemes are defeated, all obstacles to love are gone, all deserving characters are rewarded. The denoument is to be a time to end all of the conflicts and complications. 
Opinion: Wow. Whenever I see a play again, I am going to be thinking about all of this! That's so cool how everything comes together. I always knew that there is a certain pattern in a story. If it's a love story, the girl and guy are usually in a situation where they wan to be with each other but cannot. Then they go through all these conflicts but finally are able to resolve them and are finally together. In a tragedy, everything seems happy and dandy at first, but then a sudden conflict takes place therefore ending on a tragic note instead of on a happy note. I found this all very interesting, it showed me a new way of looking at play. Drama and literature do have a certain similarity, due to the fact that they both have a plot and a certain structure or way of telling the story. When I finally do become a writer, I will always remember these 5 elements required for a drama.

#11 Week Twelve "Action, Conflict, and Plot Make Up a Play's Development"

Summary: Plays are made up of a series of sequential and related actions or incidents. The actions our connected by chronology, which is in order based on the time that it happens. The ordered chain of actions and reactions is plot, which is connected as a plan or pattern. Most of the actions are visible since it is right before our eyes. Dramatic plots can be simplified or complicated. In order to complicate things more there is a double or multiple plot which is two or more different but related lines of action. One of these plots is usually the  main plot,but at times the subplot may be even more interesting because it is independent. 
Opinion: Plays sound really complicated to put together, that's why I just go and see them and not be in them. :p I would like to but, I dont know if I could remember all of my lines. It is true that sometimes the subplot can be way more interesting than the main part. This opened my eyes to how plays are so meticulous when it comes to having everything in the right place and when to do a certain thing and when not to do a certain thing. 

#10 Week Twelve "Characters Talk Themselves Alive Through Speech and Action"

Summary: Drama mainly focuses on it's characters. The major quality of characters in drama is that they come alive in their speech and actions. While watching a play, we must listen to their words and watch how they act, i n order to understand what they are trying to say. Drama is not meant to tell the whole life of the character, but to highly focus on a time where there were major oppositions or conflicts in which the character was engaged. With conflicts the most dramatic characters are the protagonist and the antagonist. The protagonist is opposed by the antagonist. Just like fiction, drama provides u with both round and flat characters. A round character is someone that we know everything about, a developing character. A flat character is someone who stays the same throughout the story. Other characters are called realistic characters and non realistic characters. Realistic characters are characters that have lives of their own. While a non-realistic character are undeveloped and symbolic. Drama relies on stereotype characters because it makes it easier to but a certain person as that character, based on their personality. There are also ancillary characters,  for example a foil which is created to be compared and contrasted with the protagonist. The second type is the choric figure is usually a confidant of the protagonist, when this character mention his/her opinion they are then called a raisonneur ( the reasoner). Characters can also be symbolic, for example "Fred Higgins in Mulatto by Langston Hughes, symbolizes the cynicism, indifference, cruelty and misuse of responsibility that accompany the concept of racial supremacy." 
Opinion: Drama is a lot like fiction, because in any book that I have read there is always a protagonist and an antagonist. Even when telling a story of my personal life, i have had many antagonist in my life; it's not just in literature. But once again I am amazed at how much really goes into making these dramas or fiction. There is so much thought put into how a character must be, what type of personality, and if they are able to become a totally different person for a while. I think that would be so cool, to act like someone else.Then I would know how it would feel to be in that person's shoes. 

#9 Week Twelve "Drama as Literature: The text is the Printed(or handwritten) Play & Language, Imagery, and Style Bring the Play to Life"

Summary: The major literary aspects of drama are the text, language, characters, plot, structure, point of view, tone, symbolism and theme or meaning. The text of a play is to bring the play into action. The most notable features of the text are dialogue, monologue, and stage directions. Dialogue is the conversation of two or more characters. A monologue is performed by one single character. Stage directions are the playwright's instructions on facial and vocal expressions and stage appearance, among other things. What we learn about characters, relationships and conflicts is conveyed in dramatic language. Through dialogue or soliloquy is where characters use language, "To reveal intimate details about their lives and their deepest thoughts-their loves, hatreds,hopes and plans." To bring such an intimate thing to the audience requires the dramatists to use words with many different connotations. Playwrights may also use metaphors or symbols that contribute to the plays meaning and impact. Dramatists also make sure to use words that fit their characters, the time and the place of the play. Some dramatists have to acquire an accent in order to indicate a specific character trait. 
Opinion: I never knew that so much had to be done in order for a play or story to be just right. I had an idea but now i know! It is true that dramatists, when playing a certain part have to take on an accent; which distinguishes them from the other characters. It's in books too! I recently read a book that took place in the 1800's, the characters were from New York but I just assumed they had a slight accent. Just in the way the text was written, would show the differences between the high class and the lower class. The maid's vocabulary wouldn't be as broad as the main character's. Which is what is done in a play, there are certain characters that have an accent, dress much more fancier and have quite a vocabulary. While the maid's are dressed poorly and don't even bother saying a word to someone of a higher class. It's really cool! I even read the book in a British accent, so that way all the insults sound even fancier yet demeaning! :P

#8 Week Twelve "The Dramatic Vision: An Overview"

Summary : Drama has things in common with other types of literature. Drama focuses on one of the few major characters who enjoy, endure failures,face different types of challenges and interact with other characters. The language of drama should resemble the language of life as much as possible. Drama is also like poetry both developing through speech and action, but there are many differences. Fiction is distinguished from drama because the essence of fiction is narration: the actual telling of a story. Poetry is different because it exists in many formal and informal shapes and it's the shortest of the genres. Poetry is to be read silently and sounds strange, but drama is to be performed in front of an audience. 
Opinion: I personally have always liked drama because it makes me feel as if i'm right there in the action. But with poetry it's different, the words are jumbled together and sound out of place when read aloud. Drama on the other hand is made to relate to real life situations. A poem about love would have an affect on me, but I would probably have to read it a couple of times and then relate it to my life. If a drama about love would be presented I would be able to relate much faster and feel the feelings of the actor/actresses. 

#7 "How to read a poem" (week eleven)

Summary: Poems are often about subjects that we have not faced directly. We've never been through the poet's experiences or never thought things the way the poet does. That is why we must read the poems very carefully.There isn't a certain way to read a poem but there are a couple of guidelines that can help the reader. First read straight through to get a general sense of the poem. Second try to understand the poem's meaning and organization. Look at the title, it gives you a sense of what the poem is about. The speaker, whether it's an inside speaker, someone telling it in first person point of view; or an outside speaker, someone telling it in either third person point of view or omniscient. Familiar and unfamiliar words may be used in a different context where a dictionary may be needed to decipher the message. The setting or situation, the form of development and ultimately the subject. It could be love, happiness, school, sadness or mystery. Thirdly read the poem aloud sounding each word clearly,to depict the sound or tone of the poem. Fourthly paraphrase the poem and make and explication and try to interpret the poem. 
Opinion: It's just like I said in the post before this one, it's hard to understand certain poems. I think these steps are really good and can definitely help someone having trouble reading a poem with big words or vague descriptions. Poems about love and all that, people are able to relate to those experiences because many people have experienced love. But if it were to be about music, maybe only a few people would understand what people are really trying to say. It all really depends on what type of poetry people read. 

#6 "Poetry of the English Language" (week eleven)

Summary: When it comes to poetry, the whole world knows about it. Every nation has their own poetry history. For example France, "La Marseillaise" is the French national anthem but many Americans know about it. The Philippines, China, Japan all those countries have their own unique history in poetry. Of course all are translated into English. The earliest poems come from the Old English(450-1100). Most of their poems were influenced by Christianity. But when the Middle English period came along, poems were influenced by many various subjects. Poetry flourishes in many different ways. It could be in a song, but first starts off as a poem. The Star Spangled Banner was a poem before it became our national anthem. 
Opinion: I never knew that the Start Spangled Banner was a poem! But come to think about it, poems are everywhere. A song is a poem just that music is put to it. Poem's are a great way of expressing one self. Several subjects can be talked about in a poem for example, music, love, sex, society and individuality. Some are very vivid, detailed while others are vague and hard to understand. Like the poem I read earlier, "Here a pretty Baby lies" i didn't understand it at first but after reading it over and over I finally understood that the baby was being put into a coffin. Some people find poems hard to understand because they are worded weirdly and not straight forward. I like poetry but my poetry! When i write poems i don't really rhyme i just write my feelings and it all comes out good. :)

#5 "Here a Pretty Baby Lies" by Robert Herrick (week eleven)

Summary: Here a pretty baby lies, sung asleep by lullabies. Be silent and not move while we watch the earth cover her.
Opinion: I first thought this was a meaningless poem about a baby sleeping. But when i read the commentary I was shocked. The lullabies being sung to the baby are the songs of a funeral service.The baby is not laying in a bed but in a coffin, being covered by dirt. This poem has such little words, but such a big impact. It took me a couple times to reread the sentences and finally understand it, but when i did, wow I continue to be surprised at how poetry can have different meaning to some people. But at least the poem meant something. 

#4 "Hope" by Lisel Mueller (week eleven)

Summary: Hope can be found in the most unforeseen ways. It explodes from the beautiful heads of dandelions, "It sticks to the wings of green angels that sail from the tops of maples." It comes from a baby's first breath of life; it's our one and only gift, "that we cannot destroy in ourselves." Hope lies in the future, in everything we know about God. It is what keeps us from betraying one another, "It's in this poem, trying to speak."
Opinion:  I never thought of hope in the way it's used in this poem. She compares hope to "lights being turned on, shaking sleep from its eyes." It's everyday things that she is comparing hope to. A baby taking it's first breath, our mouth opening to breathe. Hope is in all of that, we tend to forget how significant these things are. People take their life for granted, we should be hoping that we wake up the next day, get to work alive, get home safely. Anything can happen, so Lisel Mueller taught me to appreciate life a lot more. Poetry is good for something if you understand it. :p 

#3 "The story of an hour" (week ten)

Paraphrase: Mrs. Mallard awaits the terrible news her sister is about tell her. There had been a railroad accident, Mr. Mallard was said to be involved in the accident. Once she heard the news she began to uncontrollably weep. She went to her room and sat down looking out of the window taking in all of nature's beauty, when she suddenly felt a feeling of freedom. Realizing that she would have all these summers to do things and meet new kinds of people. She becomes filled with an astounding joy, her sister knows that too much adrenaline will cause her heart problems. (Since she already has a weak heart) Mrs. Mallard steps out of the room and goes down the stairs filled with excitement when suddenly Mr. Mallard walks in, unharmed and see's his wife. She looks at him in complete shock; she lets out a piercing cry and dies. The doctors said that, "she died of a heart disease-a joy that kills." 
Opinion: This is crazy! Well Mrs.Mallard had reasons to be excited, she loved him.."sometimes, often she had not." She felt that her freedom from being under a man was the best thing to ever happen to her. Which is true, because some men tend to overpower the woman in 1894 that's how things always were. I wouldn't be that excited if my husband were to die,but if I didn't love him, my grief wouldn't be as profound as other women who lose their husbands. I think it's ironic that she was so filled with joy of being free and then joy of seeing her husband alive that it kills her. It kind of makes me afraid of being too happy. :)

# 2 Week Four ("Miss Brill")

Summary: Miss Brill goes on a walk to the park every Sunday, while at the park she observes all the people there. On this particular Sunday she decides to use her fur neck-let, which she hasn't used in a long while. Throughout her observances she has seen an old couple, a band that is always there on Sundays, and many other people. She loves to listen to other peoples conversations because she feels as if she is part of their lives. While sitting and watching girls, boys, men, woman, dogs pass by she has an epiphany. This whole scene is all part of a play where everyone is an actor, including herself. Hearing the band play made her realize that this whole time she was supposed to start singing and dancing and everyone would join in. She smiled, feeling content and almost whole with all the happiness she felt, finally feeling important and part of something. She looked across from her and saw a  young boy and girl, and prepared to listen. "Why does she come here at all-who wants her?" After hearing this she continues smiling and enjoying the scenery. On her way home she doesn't get her usual ice cream but just goes inside, sits for along time and finally takes off the neck-let as quick as possible without looking and closes the box. As she closes the box she hears something cry. 


Opinion: In my opinion Miss Brill is a little bit psycho. Well not really, but she does this because she has no life. Which makes me feel bad for her, I could not imagine living in a world where all that keeps you going is going to a park and watching people, hearing their conversations, putting yourself in their shoes. She has a pathetic life and finds enjoyment in doing all that, she needs to feel a part of something and the only to achieve that is by listening to other peoples conversations. It's true, when listening to others conversations, we tend to feel part of their lives but really it's intruding in someone else's  privacy. But as humans it's natural to eavesdrop and want to be a part of everything. What makes me feel for Miss Brill is when the kids make fun of her. It hurts whenever someone doesn't want you there but all you want is to be there. I think that when she went home,she sat there for so long thinking about whether she did matter at all and what she heard cry was her. The fur was almost like a part of her that made her feel wanted and part of the "play" but when realizing that she wasn't wanted she put the neck-let away not even looking because she didn't know how or want to let go of the only thing that kept her going...

#1 Week two ("What is Literature and why do we study it?") PG. 3

Summary: "Literature makes us human." Literature tells us stories, dramatizes a situation and expresses emotions. Before book were being read to ourselves, they were read out loud. Literature helps us grow personally  and intellectually. It helps develop our imagination. increases our understanding. Helps us recognize human dreams, exercises our emotions, whether it be concern, sympathy, excitement, fear and hope. It encourages us to help creative and talented people who need support to be recognized. Clarifies our own identity and perspectives.
Opinion( Response): Personally I like reading, I can't explain why and like the story said, "Most people cannot explain why they enjoy reading." I like reading because it takes me into another world, where I can feel all the emotions the character feels and even see everything that is going on in the story. I can almost relate to any story or book I read. It opens up my imagination and gives me a new perspective on things. Another thing about literature is that it has words that I do not understand, and with the help of a dictionary I learn the meaning. But without literature I wouldn't have the vocabulary that I have today, which benefits me in the long run making me able to succeed in school and in life.

Hello everyone! I'm so glad to be in this class. I just love it here. :D